Aeroplane.



J. E. GUALEXANDBR.

AEROPLANB.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23. 1912.

2 SEBETB-SHEET 1.

6 1 G e D d e t n e t a P 3 n Lav/M506 flEezamdev.

J. E. G. ALEXANDER. AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1912.

a u m H E &

- to readily take the ments.

JOSEPH E. G. ALEXANDER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

' Application filed July 23, 1912. Serial No. 711,074.

rights 2 at the center of the aeroplane, exten'd below the lower main plane and are fixed to curved runners 4 constituting the lower bars of a landing frame. The front ends of these bars 4 are curved and their rear ends extend upwardly and are adapted To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH EVG. ALEX- ANDER, a subject of .the King of Great Britain, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following-isa specification.

' My invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes, the object of the invention being to provide an aeroplane of the biplane type with improved steering mechanism, in which steering means are provided in front of the main planes in combination wlth ailerons. I

A further object is to provide an improved construction of biplane having ailerons thereon, and provided with a foreand-aft frame having fixed horizontal and vertical rudders at its rear end and movable horizontal and vertical rudders at its forward end, and provide improved means for controlling the movement of the forward rudders and the ailerons.

A further object is to provide an aeroplane with improved landing means which normally hold the plane at "an incline so as air and give a quick lift are provided at the intersection of the for ward uprights 2 and the runners to permit the biplane to roll readily over theground these wheels 5 at an incline as so that the'shi-p starting. At the and-aft frame 3 hold the fore-and-aft frame seen most clearly in Fig. 2, will readily take the air in front and rear of the foreon the lower bars thereof,

chine is unduly to assume its wheels 5 on the ground. At the front end of the fore-and-aft frame 3, a horizontal steering rudder 7 is located, and back of the same, a vertical steeringrudder 8 is mount ed to swing. At the rear end of the fore and-aft frame, a fixed horizontal rudder 9 is secured and a fixed vertical rudder 10 is secured. These fixed rudders 9 and 10 nicely tilt-ed, and cause the same in starting.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim. I

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating myimprove- Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on an enlarged scale illustrating the aileron controllingtreadles. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the vertical and horizontal rudder control. Figs. 5, and 6 are fragmentary views in elevation at right angles to each other illustrating the connection between the front horizontal rudder and its controlling arm. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in section illustrating the pivotal connection ofthe steering lever with its supporting bar, and Fig. 8' is a fragmentary view in elevation at right angles-to Fig. 3. 7

1, 1, represent the parallel main planes connected by uprights 2 which are secured to the fore-and-aft frame 3, and these upinsure a steady device in the air.

The runners 4 are connected to the uprights 2 by diagonal braces 11, and ,t-hese braces 11 are connected to the lower members of the fore-and-aft frame by rods 12. These rods 12 are connected by a transverse bar 13 on which a post 14 is mounted. A horizontal bar bearing 16 mounted to turn on post- 14, and on the ends of this bar 15, foot rests 17 are secured. These foot rests and bar constitute an oscillating treadle and said foot rests are connected by wires 18 with ailerons customary with machines of this character. The pedals are connected to the ailerons on the respective sides of the device, that is, the pedal on the left is connected to the left hand aileron and the pedal on the right to the right hand aileron. When the device is turning to either the right or left there is a tendency for that side of the machine in the direction toward which it is turning, to drop and therefore the aileron on said side should be operated to right the machine.

ran srnrns reread caries.

in starting and alighting. At the same time,

normal position with the 75 balancev the movable rudders 7 and 8, and

is provided with a central.

19 supported between the planes 1, 1, as is to contact with the ground, while wheels 5 upwardly bent runners 6 are provided which are adapted to strike the ground if the madles the flattened portion of one of the bars peller 31 on its rear end. The operators treadle, and seat are extended forwardly be'-.

20, and'is pivotally connected to said bar by a bolt 23.

The horizontal steering rudder '7 is provided with a crank arm 24, and the latter is connected by a rod with post 21, so

that the fore-and-aft movement of post 21- .serves to move the rudder 7. The vertical rudder 8, at its rear end, is connected by wires 26 with the rotary hub'27 of a steering wheel 28 on the upper end of post 21.

It will thus be seen that by turning the. steering wheel 28, the rudder 8 is swung toright and left, and by moving the post 21, fore-and-aft, the rudder 7 is tilted.

NVhile' my aeroplane is not limited to any construction or location of engine, I have illustrated an engine 29 diagrammatically between the main planes 1, 1, and havinga rear-Wardly projecting shaft 30 with a pro seat 32 is located in close proximity to the post 21, and treadle 15, and this post,

yond the main planes and to one side of the center of the fore-and-aft frame so that the operator will be away from the engine and from under the main planes. This is a desirable location in the event of accident,

as the operator can readily free himself 'from the planes.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I 0 not limit myself to the precise details set. forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An aeroplane comprising two main planes, a fore-andaft frame extending infront and rear of the main planes, a horizontal plane atthe forward end of said frame, a vertical plane .mounted in the said frame and in rear of thehorizontal plane, a second horizontal plane rigidly mounted near the rear end of the fore-and-aft frame, a second vertical plane rigidly mounted inrear of the said second horizontal plane, ailerons mounted between the main planes, a post, a bar mounted between its ends on the post, vertical foot rests on the ends of the bar, and flexible devices connecting the right and left foot rests and the right and left ailerons respectively, whereby; an oscillating movement of the bar 0 crates the ailerons, substantially as descrilied. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JosEP n. fe. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

C. R. Zn'coLun, S. W. Fos'rsn.

"Copies of this-patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner, Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

